Virginia, the state where the first Thanksgiving was celebrated, is known for its traditional food. Sadly, the state is also famous for car accidents. In 2022, the state saw a total of 122,434 car accidents, which resulted in 1,005 fatalities.
These are some scary statistics that make you wonder what can be done. As a citizen, it is important to learn a lot about the causes of accidents and what to do following one.
You can learn these things by speaking with an experienced car accident lawyer in Virginia. They are knowledgeable and can educate you on the things you need to do following an accident.
One of the important aspects you need to know is who can be held liable for car accidents. The liable parties may differ depending on the case. Here are some common parties that can be held liable for car accidents:
- Car drivers
- Car manufacturers
- Car mechanic
- Employers
- Vehicle owners
Car Drivers
The most common cause of car accidents is driver error. The following are some common ways a driver acts negligently:
- Distracted driving
- Driving under the influence
- Violation of traffic rules
- Sleep-deprived driving
Every driver owes a duty of care to every other driver. Breaching this duty of care is the primary reason for car accidents. When breaching the duty of care, it may seem like a simple action, but it can result in catastrophic accidents. For example, violating the traffic rules may lead to t-bone accidents, which in turn can lead to injuries like whiplash.
Car Manufacturers
Another common cause of car accidents is defective products. Car manufacturers owe a duty of care to civilians to produce quality products.
The people who buy their cars trust the manufacturer to produce good quality products. When the manufacturers fail to uphold the duty of care, accidents happen.
For instance, a defect in an airbag can cause accidents by popping out suddenly when it is not necessary.
Car Mechanic
Improper maintenance can also lead to product defects. The car mechanic who recently worked on the car can be held liable.
The car mechanic is responsible for fixing existing issues and identifying future issues that may arise.
Failing to do so makes them liable for accidents. It is difficult to investigate these types of cases. So it is better to hire a lawyer who will have contacts with skilled private investigators.
Employers
In cases where the car driver was carrying out a task assigned by their employer, the employer can be held liable for the accident.
Some employers may assign unrealistic goals to make employees work harder so that they can generate a better profit. This results in employees acting negligently when driving.
Since employers force employees to breach the duty of care, they can be held liable.
Vehicle Owners
Vehicle owners can be held liable if they intentionally gave their car to a minor, an unlicensed person, or an alcoholic.
In these cases, the vehicle owners are intentionally putting every road user at risk.
Parents can be held liable if they allow their children who don’t have a license to drive their cars.
Driving a car in congested traffic requires skill. Not everyone is equipped to do that. Even licensed sober drivers make mistakes. So never give your car to anyone you don’t trust.
Final Thoughts
Car accidents can cause various losses to the victims. It will turn the life of a victim upside down. It will take a long time to completely recover from the accident. A lawyer can significantly accelerate the recovery process.
Insurance companies will try to reject or reduce your compensation by employing many different tactics. An experienced lawyer can protect you from them and their strategies.
They can negotiate with the insurance company and obtain fair compensation for you.
